For insurers, attorneys, and engineers evaluating damage tied to tropical weather events, site-specific forensic meteorology analysis is essential. Our team reconstructs storm conditions at the property level, accounting for wind variability, storm timing, rainfall accumulation, and surge extent, to support defensible damage assessments across the full spectrum of tropical system classifications, including tropical depressions, tropical storms, and hurricanes.
Forensic meteorology does not determine what was damaged or the extent of physical loss; that is the role of Haag’s forensic engineering and consulting team. The forensic meteorology team establishes the atmospheric record: what conditions existed at a specific location, at a specific time, and whether those conditions were consistent with the type of timing of the reported damage. This distinction is critical in complex claims and litigation, where the meteorological record and the engineering findings must each stand independently and work together to tell a complete, accurate story.
Haag’s forensic meteorologists provide that atmospheric foundation – a site-specific, data-driven reconstruction of what the storm produced. Engineers, adjusters, and legal teams apply this analysis to their respective scopes of work.
When evaluating site-specific meteorological conditions associated with tropical systems, Haag’s forensic meteorologists analyze:
Our approach to evaluating tropical systems reflects three core elements:
Haag’s forensic meteorologists hold Certified Consulting Meteorologists (CCM) designations from the American Meteorological Society, which is the field’s highest professional credential. This level of qualification directly supports the credibility of our experts. They have extensive experience analyzing tropical weather systems and their associated hazards.
Haag evaluates satellite imagery, radar data, NHC best track records, surface observations, numerical model data, and historical storm records to reconstruct storm behavior and site-specific conditions. Drawing from multiple independent sources produces a more complete and defensible atmospheric record than any single data stream can provide.
Haag’s forensic meteorologists produce written reports grounded in scientific data. When litigation requires it, Haag’s team provides expert witness testimony and deposition support backed by the same rigorous analysis.
Tropical system impacts can occur across a range of storm classifications. Haag’s forensic meteorologists evaluate conditions associated with:
Organized systems with defined circulation but lower sustained wind speeds, which can still produce heavy rainfall, localized flooding, and intermittent wind impacts.
Systems with stronger sustained winds and more defined structure, capable of producing widespread wind damage, heavy precipitation, and infrastructure impacts.
High-intensity systems with sustained winds of at least 74 mph (64 knots) or greater, often producing significant structural damage, storm surge, and prolonged hazardous conditions.
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